USDA Economic Research Service Briefing Room
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Wheat

Contents
 

Overview

The United States is a major wheat-producing country, with output typically exceeded only by China, the European Union, and India. Wheat ranks third among U.S. field crops in both planted acreage and gross farm receipts, behind corn and soybeans. Presently, about half of the U.S. wheat crop is exported.

The U.S. wheat sector enters the 21st century facing many challenges, despite a strong domestic market for wheat products. U.S. wheat harvested area has dropped off nearly 30 million acres, or nearly one-third from its peak in 1981, because of declining returns compared with other crops and alternative options under government programs. Despite rising global wheat trade, U.S. share of the world market has eroded in the past two decades.

Features

Wheat Outlook (monthly) provides updates on current market developments affecting the wheat sector.

2008 Farm Bill Side By Side2008 Farm Bill Side-By-Side (August 2008) presents a title-by-title summary of key provisions of the 2008 Act in a side-by-side comparison with previous legislation. The side-by-side includes links to related ERS publications and to analyses of previous farm acts. New features include a user's guide, an A-Z list of major provisions, and a search function.


USDA Wheat Projections, 2008-17 (March 2008) provides background on supply and demand issues underlying the long-term projections in USDA Agricultural Projections to 2017 (February 2008), and summarizes key findings for the U.S. wheat sector.

 

For more information, contact: Gary Vocke or Edward Allen

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov

Updated date: November 21, 2008